Read it through once

It appears that portions of the church, notwithstanding the solemn injunctions and admonitions of St. Paul, continued to interfere with the civil and domestic relations of master and servant. But the practice was condemned as unchristian, by nearly all the principal _fathers_. Particularly, Ignatius, Chrysostom and Jerome. Ignatius says, "let them (servants), serve their masters with greater diligence, and not be puffed up--and let them not desire their liberty to be purchased by the church." It was decreed by one of the ancient councils of the church,--"if any teach, that by virtue of religion or Christian instruction, that the slave may despise his master, or may withhold his service, let him be anathema," viz., let him be accursed of God, and separated or excommunicated from the church of Christ. Let the church have no fellowship, union, or communion with him, and let him be an off-cast from society.